Operation Sunset

Operation Sunset (7 February 2006) was a battle of the Iraq War fought between the United States and the Iraqi insurgents for control of Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. A detachment of US Marine Corps soldiers was sent to secure the insurgent-held neighborhood of Iraq, including Saddam Square, but the insurgents put up a strong defense and inflicted heavy losses on the Americans. The operation was inconclusive, with both sides suffering heavy losses.

History
The US Marine Corps decided to launch an operation to capture a Sunni neighborhood occupied by the Iraqi insurgents, which also contained Saddam Square. The American soldiers deployed in squads of around 13 troops each, while the insurgents had a few more troops than the Americans, approximately 15 men per squad. The initial fighting took place along the main road that carried the Americans from the town towards the commercial district and Saddam Square, with the insurgents holding the areas closer to Saddam Square. However, the insurgents repelled flanking attacks on the right side of the road past some walls, and the insurgents counterattacked towards an American-held gas station. The insurgents secured the gas station after some heavy fighting, with RPG shots being fired. The battle raged on as the two sides battled for the inner town, and it ended without a clear victor due to heavy losses on both sides and stalemate in terms of territorial control.